재무연구 제 권 호 (2019년 5월)
Asian Review of Financial Research, Vol., No..
pp.435~496
pp.435~496
Religion and Financial Development and Structure
Frederick Dongchuhl Oh Associate Professor, KAIST College of Business, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Donglim Shin Ph.D. Student, KAIST College of Business, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
This study examines whether religion influences the financial development and structure of a country. In a sample of 46 countries between 1996 and 2015, we find that religiosity fosters financial development and a market-based financial structure, whereas religious hierarchy and moderate religious heterogeneity induce financial underdevelopment and a bank-based structure. Furthermore, these religious effects are more pronounced for countries with a weaker contractual environment, supporting the ameliorating role of social trust in a contractual environment. Overall, our study provides the first evidence that religion has a crucial impact on financial development and structure by affecting social trust. (JEL G10, G21, O16, Z12)
Frederick Dongchuhl Oh
Donglim Shin
This study examines whether religion influences the financial development and structure of a country. In a sample of 46 countries between 1996 and 2015, we find that religiosity fosters financial development and a market-based financial structure, whereas religious hierarchy and moderate religious heterogeneity induce financial underdevelopment and a bank-based structure. Furthermore, these religious effects are more pronounced for countries with a weaker contractual environment, supporting the ameliorating role of social trust in a contractual environment. Overall, our study provides the first evidence that religion has a crucial impact on financial development and structure by affecting social trust. (JEL G10, G21, O16, Z12)
